Internal radiator for anodes



arch 12, 1935. H. B. McEUEN INTERNAL RADIATOR FOR ANODES Filed Nov. 20,1931 INVENTOR. 1i. fi. [if c 502' BY M A TTORNEY" Patented Mar. 12, 1935UNlTED smeg- INTERNAL nanm'ronronfmonus 7 Harry Bernard McEuen,Jacksonville, Fla.

' 1 Application ovember 20, 1931, Serial Names-7s Renewed May 24, 193417 Claims. (Cl. 259-35) This invention is directed to an improvement inanodes for X-ray tubes, with particularregard tov permitting materialincrease of the total load capacity of such tube withoutoverheatinge '5.In tubes as heretofore proposed the input ca! pacity has beenmaterially'restricted and output.

' is to provide for effective cooling of thetungsten button even undermaterially increased input as compared with the present type, therebymaterially increasing the range of eiiectiveness of the apparatus,without danger to the, operator. or liability of damage of theparts; 7

The important constructive detail of thetpres ent invention is theprovisionof metallicmeans for diffusing" the heat of thebutton properover. a comparatively large area, and subjecting this area to the .heatexchange with a cooling medium in circulatory flow, to dissipate:orcarry away-the heated condition. i 1 g 4 The invention is illustratedinthe accompany ing drawing, in which:-- i Fig. .1V is a view inlongitudinal section of an anode of an X-ray apparatus, showing theapplication of the improved cooling means, Fig.2 is a section on theline .22 of Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view,'partly in elevation, showing theconnection of the tungsten button and the metallic backing therefor.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. '1, showin a slightly-diiierent form ofcooling means. r

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The showing here is of ananode for use in con nection with X -r-ayapparatus, and while, more particularly designed for useinconnectionwith the apparatus describedin my copending appli: cation,Serial Number 428,798, February 15, 1930, is obviously capable of otherand varied uses and purposes, and any and all such are contemplated;

bedded in a metallic, preferably copper, backing sheetB. I To insure themaximum heat conductive contact andal-so more securely fix the button tothe backing sheet, the button'is formed with projections 101 spurs ,4,which are embedded in the materialoi the backing sheet;

The backing sheet, which is comparatively thin is integrally orotherwiseformed to provide fins 5, radiating from the center or the backing andterminating immediately .free of contact with the tube- 1. These-finsfor an appropriate distance from the. center of the backing sheet have alimited extension rearward-1y, the remaining .and relatively outerportion :ofeach being extended rearwardly for a considerable distance,as indicated at 6. The fin extensions 6 thus define a centralpassage '7,open at the rear and having relatively narrow fin portions; at thefront.

A tube 8 for the cooling agent, whether water, oil, or other .medium, isprojected through the end of; the tube 1 remote-from the target, andextends. centrally of the tube 1, with its open forward end terminatingimmediately adjacent the short fin lengths. The tube extendslongitudinally of the passage J, defined by the extensions 6, beingpreferably free of contact with the edges of such extensions to permitfree, flow of the cooling agent. The end of the tube 1 remote from thetarget is sealed an appropriate manner, except for the passage of thetube 8, preferably entering atthe upper portion of the tube, and for anoutlet 9 for the heated water. The outlet, wh ch is of tube form maybeintegral with the end .sealingelement, or secured thereto,

such outlet tube merely communicating with the 7 tube .1 at thesealedend. r

In the form shown in Figsj and .5, the target is similar to the*tormfirst described, including a tungsten button 10, and a metallicbacking 11, the cooperation .of the button and backing, including thespurs, being asillustrated in Fig. 3,. It is of course to be understoodthat While the provision of thespurs 4 are to be preferred, othersimilar means may be arranged in either form, oranysuch meanseliminated. The backing 11 of this form is also provided with fins,suchfins :12 this case radiating from an area or point at the extreme loweredge of the backing, and diverging therefrom upwardly, asv -clearlyshown in Fig.5. .The lower portions of these fins 12 terminateinwardlyof the jback-, ingand ashort distance therefrom, as at ,13, while theupper portions of the ifins are extended longie tudinally :of the tube1, as fin-extensions 14.

A tube 15 tor-the cooling agent extends through the sealing end 16 ofthe tube 1, and is directed lengthwise the tube 1, parallel to and inspaced relation with the lower portion of the wall of the tube. The freeopen end of the cooling tube 15 terminates immediately in advance of theterminals 13 of the short lower portions of the fins 12. An outlet tube17 communicates with the upper portion of the tube 1, beingappropriately secured in the sealed end of such tube 1.

In the form shown in Figs. '1 and 2, the cooling agent is deliveredthrough the tube 8 under more or less pressure, and the circulationthrough the tube 1 and through the outlet 9 is maintained by thispressure. In the form shown'in Figs. 4' and 5, the circulation ismaintained bythermo-siphonic action, the cooling agent rising throughthe fins, becoming heated, and flowing out the higher outlet.

In both forms the heat of the focal point is readily distributed byconduction to the extremely large relative metallic area, broken intofin formation to present maximum surfacearea, and through thecirculation of the cooling agent in contact with this large metallicsurface area, the heat is carriedawa'y from the target and dissipated.The rapid and effectivecooling of the target permits a material increasein the electrical energy which may be employed, with obviousadvantageous results.

The rapidity of the circulation of the cooling agent may be controlledas desired in the pressure system, and will be automatically controlledin the thermo-siphon system. Of course in the thermo-siphon system thetubes 15 and 17 may be in communication with an'external tank forcontinuous circulation, with the tank subject to an external coolingagent. This arrangement is conventional, and requires noparticular'illustration.

In more detail it is contemplated that the tungsten button should be atleast two inches in diameter and the metallic backing relatively thin,say about two millimeters in thickness, the'fins being of correspondingdiameterJ The'metal employed is preferably copper, owing to the highheat conductivity of such metal, though specific limitation to copper isnot intended.

In connection with that characteristic of the invention designed toprevent damageto the parts, attention is called tothe fact that the finsserve as a grid-like reinforce to the matrix, preventing the matrix andbutton frombulging from the pressure of the cooling fluid or due to thepull of the vacuum in the X-ray tube proper. As previously stated a thinbacking is contemplated, and hence the extreme value of the fins as areinforce is apparent. r

The tube 1 may be supportedin anydesired manner. i

Having thus described the invention, what-is claimedas new, is: a

1. An anode for X-ray apparatus and the like including a tube, a targetatone end thereof, means for delivering a cooling agent adjacent thetarget, and means carried by the target and extending rearwardly beyondthe delivery end of the cooling agent delivering means to provide arelatively large heat exchange surface between the target and thecooling agent. 7 a

2. An anode for X-ray apparatus and the like including a tube, a targetat one end thereof including a metallic backing, means for delivering acooling agent adjacent the metallic backing, and a series of metallicfins extending from the metallic backing and materially beyond thedelivery end of the means for delivering the cooling agent, said finsincluding portions of reduced length immediately in advance of thedelivery end or the cooling agent delivering means.

3. An'anode including a target having a metallic backing, 'a series offins extending rearwardly from the backing and radiating from alowerpoint of the backing, the length of the upper portion of the finsexceeding the lengtheof the lower portion thereof, andzmeans fordelivering a cooling agent in line with the reduced length of the 4. Ananode including a target having a metallic backing, a'series of metallicfins projecting rearwardly therefrom andradiating from the lowest pointof the backing, the lowest portion of the fins forming a space, and acooling agent delivery means having its discharge end within'said'space. 1 V

5. An anode including a target having ametallic backing, a series ofrearwardly extending metallic fins connected to the backing, said fins vradiating from substantially the central point of the backing, thelength of the fins within the central area of the backing being ofreduced; length to provide a space, and'a cooling agent] delivery meanshaving its discharge end within said space:-

6. An anode including a target having a metallic backing and finsprojecting from the back ing being of reduced radial dimensionsto'definef v an elongated space, and'a' coolingfiuid' delivery tubehaving its discharge end in such spacey 35 '7. An anodeincluding atarget havinga m'etallic' backing, a series of fins extending' from thebacking and radiating from thecentr'al p'oint thereof, said-fins at apoint remote fr'om 'the backing being reduced in radial dimension toform a central pocket-and a cooling-fluid deliv ery tube having itsdischarge end in such pocket. 8. An anode including a metallic backing,{fins radiating fromapoint substantially at the mar-' gin of thebacking, said fins at a point remote from the backing being reduced inradial dimension to define a pocketextending substan-- f tiallycoincident with the margin of-the ,back

ing, the radial length of the fins defining the pocket varying one fromthe'other, and'a' cool-' ing tube having its discharge end insuch'pocket.

9. An anode including a backing, aseries of fin-like blades radiatingfrom a point on thebacking and-extending away from the backing, each ofsaid blades at apoint remote from the backing being'cut away, theremaining portionsoi' the,"

backing and radiating from a point thereon',-;the"

fins adjacent'the backing extending from, such point substantially tothe marginof the backing;

the remaininglengths ofthe fins being reduced in radial dimension totogether define a pocket; and a cooling tube having its discharge and insuch pocket.

11. An anode includinga target, a'metallic backing therefor, a seriesoffinsradiating'from a point on the backing, each'of the fins project ingfrom the backingv in a direction opposite to the target, and beingcutaway for a. definite 30 ing, said fins. at a point remotefromthe'b'ackiength from their free ends to a point spaced from thebacking, the cut-away portions of the fins defining a pocket-like space,and. a cooling tube having its discharge end in such space.

12. An anode for X-ray apparatus and the like, including a tube and atarget, the target including a metallic backing having a series of heatradiating fins arranged to define a pocket, and means having itsdischarge end within the pocket for delivering a cooling agent withinsaid pocket.

13. An anode for X-ray apparatus and the like, including a tube, atarget at one end thereof, a series of metallic fins extending from thetarget within the tube, and cooling fluid delivery means having adischarge end between the ends of the fins and the target.

14. An anode having a target including a backing therefor, said backinghaving a series of fins radially disposed on the rear face of thebacking and extending rearwardly therefrom for a distance in excess ofthe thickness of the backing, the fins defining an extended heatradiating surface and providing a truss-like reinforce for the'backing.

15. An anode having the backing of the target formed with a series ofrearward-extending reinforcing fins radiating from a common point.

16. An anode having the backing of the target formed with a series ofrearwardly exteding relatively radial spaced fins to reinforce thebacking and provide relatively extended heat radiating surfaces.

17. An anode having the backing of the target formed withrearwardly-extending reinforcing fins, the fins being cut away toprovide a pocket for the reception of a cooling agent.

HARRY BERNARD'McEUEN.

